Maryland Buys 324 Acres for Doncaster Forest
The Board of Public Works approved the $721,234 purchase on October 7, adding land along Smallwood Church Road to a state demonstration forest.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Hunting
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The Maryland Board of Public Works approved a $721,234 purchase of 324.88 acres on October 7, to be added to Doncaster Demonstration State Forest in Charles County. The purchase was completed through an assignment of a contract with The Conservation Fund.
Why it matters
Protecting the property is expected to help safeguard water quality in Nanjemoy Creek and provide habitat for birds that depend on large, connected forest areas. The land lies within an area recognized by the National Audubon Society as an Important Bird Area.
The board authorized $721,234 for the purchase of 324.88 acres, plus up to $83,637 in incidental costs and $72,123 for stabilization work, including demolition of structures on the property. The source does not state how the total spending compares to other state land acquisitions.
The players
Maryland Board of Public Works
The state body that approves major state spending and land transactions in Maryland, composed of the governor, comptroller and treasurer.
Maryland Department of Natural Resources
The state agency that manages Maryland's state forests, parks and wildlife resources, including Doncaster Demonstration State Forest.
The Conservation Fund
A national nonprofit land conservation organization that acquires and transfers land to public ownership for conservation.
The details
The purchase was approved through an assignment of a contract with The Conservation Fund, and the board authorized funds for stabilization work, including demolition of structures on the property. The land will be managed by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources as part of Doncaster Demonstration State Forest.
Timeline
October 7, 2026: Maryland Board of Public Works approves the purchase.
Deer season, 2026: An existing hunting lease may remain in place.
February 28, 2027: The existing hunting lease must end no later than this date.
Seasonal Patterns
The acquisition sits inside an area the National Audubon Society has designated an Important Bird Area, so the added forest extends protection for birds that rely on large, connected habitat. The source provides no comparison to historical acquisition rates for Doncaster Demonstration State Forest.
Hunters with an existing lease on the property may keep hunting through deer season, but the lease must end by February 28, 2027. Residents near Smallwood Church Road and Nanjemoy Creek may see the land kept in forest cover under state management.
The takeaway
State ownership of the Doncaster acreage keeps the land in forest, which can protect creek water quality and bird habitat for the long term. Hunters with leases on the property should plan around the February 28, 2027 end date.
Further reading
For more on outdoor pursuits in the state, see Hunting in Maryland.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Bay Net.
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